Rising China: What Lessons Can We Learn From the 19th Party Congress?

Event Details

Held once every five years, the Party Congress is China’s most important political event, and has set the stage for the next five years of Chinese leadership. Beyond that, President Xi has outlined a bold vision for China in the coming decades that will see the country continue expanding its reach abroad, at the same time United States’ foreign policy becomes increasingly inward-looking.

Join the CIC Vancouver for a lively discussion on the future of China in the international system.

About the Speaker:

Guy Saint-Jacques, former Canadian ambassador to the People’s Republic of China

Guy Saint-Jacques worked for one year as a land planner for the Quebec Government before joining the Department of External Affairs in 1977, holding office in New York, Mexico City, Kinshasa, and Hong Kong as well as twice in Washington, D.C., the last time as Minister and Deputy Head of Mission. He has also been Deputy High Commissioner at the High Commission of Canada in London, UK and has been posted three times to Beijing.

At Headquarters, he first worked in the Consular Affairs division, in the Francophone Africa division, and then in the Science and Technology division and in the Office of the Associate Deputy Minister. He also served as Deputy Director of the Energy and Environment division, as Director of both the Personnel (Political and Commercial) and the Assignments divisions, and as Director General of the Personnel Management Bureau . He served as Chief Negotiator and Ambassador for Climate Change for the Government of Canada and was the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary for Canada to the People’s Republic of China until October 2016.

For Mr. Saint-Jacques who speaks fluent Mandarin, this was a fourth assignment in China. Mr. Saint ­ Jacques holds a B. Sc. (Geology), University of Montreal, and a M. A. (Land Planning and Regional Development), Laval University. He is married to Sylvie Cameron and the couple has two daughters and two grandchildren.